Method of and apparatus for sampling gases.



E.W.BROWN.

.METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SAMPLING GASES.

' APPLIOA'I'IOK FILED 001'. 7, 1912.

Patented June 16, 1914.

INVENTOR he U EARL w. nnown, or mm, 01-110.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS 150B SAMIELING GASES.

Specification of Letters Patent; Patented une 16, 1914;.

Application filed October 7, 1912. Serial lo. 724,289.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL W. BROWN,'8. citizen of the United States,residing at Elyria, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of andApparatusfor Sampling Gases, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention reiates to the sampling of gases in the determination ofconstituents and characteristics of gases, and more particularly ofblast furnace and similar gases containing moisture and having aconsiderable amount of finely divided solids in suspension therein, andto a novel constructionand arrangement of apparatus adapted for use inmaking such determinations.

Heretofore, the efforts made by existing methods and with the knownapparatus to measure or determine the constituent parts of such gasesand gaseous compounds, have been found to be inefficient and inaccurate.Venturi and Pitot meters, which have been employed for this purpose.have proved to be inaccurate on account of the tendency of the openingsor passages in such apparatus to clog, and owing to thelack of means fordetermining the true velocity ofthe gases containing such widely varyingquantities of finely divided solids and other impurities as are found inblast furnaces and similar gases.

1 Dry meters and meters of the displacement type have been found to beimpractical by reason of the large sizes required while with the smallsizes the percentage of error is great, even when used in measuringcomparatively clean gases.

The electric heating meters which have been experimented with in lar e'sizes have proved only more or low satis actory under normal conditionswith comparatively clean gases and relatively uniform temperatures.

In none of the existing methods or apparatus known to me have means beenprovided for determining constituents of such gases or gaseous compoundssimultaneously with the measurement of the velocity and volume and thetemperature and pressure of the gases.

One objectof my invention is to provide a new and useful method ofsampling gases whereby the. teu'aperature, pressure and velocity of thegases is gaged, the volume and moisture content is accurately determinedand the quantity of solid matters carried in suspension in the gases ismeasured.

Another object ofthe invention isto pro vide a novel arrangement andcombination of parts forming my improved sampling apparatus by the useof which the method of sampling gases forming part of this inven-' tionis rapidly and efliciently carried out, and still further objects of myinvention will be apparent as the invention is more fully described andclaimed hereinafter.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings forming part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is an elevation showing one e'nbodiment ofapparatus constructed and arranged in accordance with'my invention andadapted for use in carrying out the steps of the method also formingpart of this invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan on the line IIII ofFig. 1 showing. on a larger scale, a detail of theconstruction of thesampling pipe and the manner in which it is applied for use on a gasmain or conduit.-

In the drawings, the numeral 2 designates a gas main or conduit having ametal shell 3 and a refractory lining 4, through which a constantlyflowing stream of gases is conducted from a place of supply, such as ablast furnace, to a place of use. and 5 is a sampling pipe or tuberemovably secured on the conduit 2 with its end having the casing 17thereon projecting inwardly within the gas main 2 into the path of theflowing column of gases.

Situated with reference to the gas conduit 2, (which is generallyoverhead in conducting blast furnace gases), in a suitable location atany convenient distance from the conduit 2 so as to be'readilyaccessible, is a velocity gage 6, a gas meter 7 having a thermon"eter.8and a U-tube 9 forming a gas pressure gage thereon, and a rotary ump 10which is driven by means of an electric'motor 11. g

The gas meter 7, pump 10 and the pump driving motor 11 are preferablymounted upon the horizontal face of a base 12, and the base 12 has avertical flange 13 extending upwardly therefrom on which the surfacecondenser 14 and the receptacle or con- 7 into theshell, and this headhas a central opening or hole 21 therethrough in which a nipple 22 issecured to project outwardly beyond the outer face of the head. The1nwardly extending openings 23 and 24 on the inner face of the head 20each terminate at their intersection with the radially extendingopenings 25 and 26 in the head 20, the radial openings 25 and 26 havingnipples 27 and 28 screw-threaded thereinto. The small inwardly extendingopenings 23 and 24 in the head 20 are connected by means of the tubularmembers 29 and 30 with the small axially extending openings 31 and 32 inone face of the connecting member 19. The other face of the connectingmember is provided with a flange 33 having an annular recess or groove34 in its outer face, and the end of the shell 18 containing thefiltering medium 18 extends within this recess to secure the filteringmedium in position within its casing 17 which is removably secured tothe connecting member 19 by the internal threads on the end of thecasing17. The connecting member 19 also has an axial .opening 35 extendinginwardly from the flanged face thereof which terminates at the inner endof the intersecting radial opening 36 located at about the middle of thelength of the connecting member. A second opening 37 is provided whichextends through the connecting member 19 to connect the interior of thecasing 17 for the filtering medium 18 with the interior of the shell 16forming part of the sampling pipe.

A short tube 38 is inserted within the counterbore at the intersectionof the openings 35 and 36 to connect the small longitudinally extendingopening 31 with the openings 35 and 36 in the connecting member 19, andthe inner end of a radially extending opening 39 intersects the innerend of the lengthwise extending opening 32 which is connected at itsouter end to one end of the tubular member '30 within the shell 16.

A hollow plug 40 having a closed outer end is screw-threaded into theradially extending opening, the opening 41 in the plug 40 registeringwith the opening 39, being connected to the radially extending openings42 located in the side thereof near the closed end of the plug. y,

A flange 43 having a tapering or frustoconical periphery is provided atan intermediate point in the length of the shell 16 forming part of thesampling pipe 5 which is inserted within the tapered opening in theflange 44,. which is located on the side of the gas main 2, when thesampling pipe 5 is in operative position within the gas main 2.

The nipple 22 in the axially central opening 21 in the head 20 on theouter end of the sampling pipe is connected by means of a pipe or tube45, a rubber hose preferably being employed, with the gas inlet opening46 on the surface condenser 14. The coudenser 14 is formed of an outershell 47 having a conical bottom 48 with an opening 49 in the bottomleading into a gradu-.

ated measuring flask 50* which is removably secured to the bottom of thecondenser 14. Depending within the outer shell 47 of the condenser is awater chamber 50, the closed lower end of which extends downwardlywithin the outer shell, and a conduit or pipe 51 which extends throughthe center of the water chamber provides a passage through which thegasespass from the tube into the condenser 14. A suitable water inlet 52and water overflow outlet 53 are provided on the head 54, forming thetop of the condenser shell 47 and of the water chamber 50, through whichwater is caused to flow into and out of the chamber in condensingmoisture in the gases passed through the condenser 14.

The condenser 14 is provided with a branch forming a gasoutlet 55 on itsupper end which is connected to the inlet opening 56 in the head 57 onone end of the recep tacle 15 which contains a chemical such as calciumchlorid (Ca Cl in order to remove any vmoisture remaining in the gasesafter passing through the condenser 14. The head 58 on the opposite endof the container or receptacle 15 is provided with an outlet opening 59which is connected by a pipe or flexible tube 60 to the inlet opening 61of the pump 10.

A branch outlet 62 on the tube 60 is con nected by the tube 63 to oneport 64 of a three-way valve 65 and the other two ports 66 and 67 of thevalve are connected by tubes 68 and 69 to the inlet opening 70 of themeter 7 and the outlet opening 71 of the pump 10. The three-way valve 65is connected to the sampling pipe 5, meter 7 and pump 10 so as to enablethe gases flowing through the tube 60 to be delivered, through the valveports 64, 66 directly into the tube 68 without passing through the pump10, whenever found necessary or desirable. Ordinarily thepump will beoperated when sampling the gas although, at times, it may be stopped.

In order to indicate the speed at which correspondingly 70 the gases aretraveling through the sampling tube 5 and apparatus connected to thedischarge outlet thereof, relative to-the velocity of the gases in thegas main 2, the velocity gage 6 is provided, which is mounted on the topof the flange 13 forming part of the base 12. This velocity gage isformed of a horizontally extending glass tube 72 having the open endsthereof connected by means of pet cocks73 to supports 74, 74, by whichthe tube 72 is secured in place on the base of the gage 6. The supports74 have 'openings 75 therethrough connecting the petcocks 73 andthe-nipples 76 located in one of the openings in the supports. Thenipples 76 are connectedby means of the. tubes 77 and 78 with the radialopenings and 26 in the head 20 on the outer'e'nd of the sampling pipe 5.The velocity gage 6'has a spirit level 79 thereon and is provided withthumbscrews 80 by which it is leveled. A rubber bulb 81 is provided onthe supports 74 for the end of the glass tube 72 forming part of thevelocity gage 6 to afiord means for blowing out the short tube 38 andplug 40, the tubular members 29 and 30, the tubes 77 and 7 8, and theconnecting passages in the connecting member 19 and closure 20 whenrequired, the pet cocks 73 being opened to discharge into the atmospherefor that purpose. The gas meter 7 also'is provided with a spirit level82 and with thumb screws 83 by which it is leveled on the base 12.

The rotary pump 10 is driven by means of the electric motor 11 which isoperatively connected thereto by means of a friction drive, a frictiondriving wheel 84 splined on the motor armature shaft extension 85engaging with the flat surface of the driven friction wheel 86 onthe'shaft of the pump 10, the shaft for the pump extending at rightangles to the shaft 85. The friction wheel 84 is adjustable lengthwiseon the shaft extension 85, across the face of the wheel 86, to vary thespeed at which the pump 10 is driven. The wheel 84 is moved lengthwiseon the shaft 85'by means of the bifurcated bracket 86 which isoperatively connected to the screw 87 mounted in bearings 88, 88, on thebase 12, and a hand wheel 89 on one end of the screw 87 provides meansfor adjusting the friction driving wheel 84 on the motor shaft 85 towardand away from the axis of the wheel 86 on the pump shaft.

In carrying out my improved method of sampling the gases in determiningconstituents and characteristics of gases with the novel arrangement ofapparatus shown and described herein, the dry weight of the filteringmedium 18 within the cap 17 of the sampling pipe 5, and that ofthelcontalner 15 connected to the discharge outlet of thesurfa'cecondenser, are very carefully determined. The filtering medium 18 isthen inserted in position -within'the sampling pipe and the container 15is connected to the pump 10 and condenser 14 as has been described, andthe sampling pipe 5 is inserted 1n place in the gas main 2. The time isnoted, and the rotary pumplO'is then started. The speed of the pump 10is then regulated in such manner that the oil piston 90 in thehorizontal velocity gage 6 is maintained in equilibrium.

The inlet 75 on one end of the velocity gage is connected by the tube 77and pipe 29 through he sampling pipe 5 with the intersecting apertures31Jand 38 within the connecting member 19 of the sampling pipe, andthrough the opening 36 in the member 19 through which the gases are ledfrom the gas main 2, to the filtering mediiun 18, and the inlet 75 onthe opposite end of the gage 6 is connected by the pipe 30 and tube 78to the intersecting apertures 32, 39, in the member 19 and registeringaxial opening41 in the plu 40 on the connecting member 19 having si eopenings 42 therein which communicate directly'with the interior of thegas main 2.

The velocity of the gases flowing through the main 2 tends to createsuction, or perhaps more accurately, tends to lessen the pressure in theopening 41 and in the-velocitygage 6 on the side of the oil piston 90that is connected therewith, and when the 7 pump 10 is not in operationthe pressure of'the gases'flowing into the opening 38, which leads tothe opposite side of the oil piston 90 in the velocity gage 6, acts toincrease the unbalancing effect and thereby movement of the oil piston.

When the pump 10 is started in operation,

gases will be drawn into the sampling tube 5, through the calibratedopening 36, and the suction created by the pump will lessen the pressurein the tubular member 29. When the pressure in this tubular member isreduced to the same extent as that caused in the tubular member 30, thepressure will become balanced, within the velocity gage, and the oilpiston 90 will have returned to and will remain stationary in itscentral position, and indicate when the pressure gage 6 is inequilibrium, that the velocities are equal.

When the oil piston 90 in the tube 72 of the velocity gage 6 remainsstationary in its central position, the velocity of the gases passingthrough aperture 36 into and through the sampling pipe into the meter 7is equal to that of the stream of gases flowing through the gas main 2.The axial center of the opening in the nozzle 36 must be absolutelyparallel to the direction of flow of the gases in the main 2 and theflow of gases must be directly into the nozzle 36 The location of thisnozzle relative to the side walls of the gas main must be determinedexperimentally for each particular main, and it is best determined bymeans of a Pitot tube showing the pressure along a complete diameter.From the average of all these readings a corresponding point in thediameter of the gas main is located and the nozzle 86 positioned at suchpoint. This has been. found by experiment in most cases with mains ofcircular cross section to be at a point positioned at a distance equalto one-third of the diameter of the main from the side of the main. Thisbalanced condition is then maintained for a definite length of time,which interval is noted, after which the sampling pipe 5 is removed fromthe gas main 2. The indications of the thermometer 8 and pressure gage 9on the meter 7,-as to temperature and pressure of the gases passingthrough the meter while the sample pipe is in operative position withinthe gas main will also be noted. The meter is then read to note thevolume of gases passed therethrough, the meter reading multiplied by theratio of the area of the aperture 36 in the connecting member 19 of thesampling pipe to the area of the gas main 2.

giving the volume of gases passing through the gas main 2 during theelapsed time, the proper corrections as to temperature and pressurehaving been made to the meter reading. The dry weight of the filteringmedium 18 before and after the tests having been determined, thedifference in such weights divided by the number of cubic units shown bythe meter will give the weight of the solids contained in each cubicunit of the gases of the sample. The sum of the weights of the watercaught in the measuring flask 50 on'the bottom of the surface condenser14,. the water in the drying receptacle 15, at the conclusion of thetest, will indicate the totalpamount of water ormoisture in the gases ofthe sample, and the volume of the sample gases being known, the moisturecontent of the gases flowing through the gas main 2 is readilyascertained. As the containerlS is always atthesame temperature as thegases in the main there will be no deposition of water in thiscontainer. The above described operations are then repeated from time totime, as is required in making successive tests.

, The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art. By means of my novel method of sampling gases the amount ofsolids carried in suspension in the gases of the gas main and themoisture content of the gases, are accurately determined. The truevelocity of the gases flowing through the gas main is gaged and thepressure and temperature of the gases is measured. The velocity of thegases as they enter thesample pipe is maintained constantly equal to thevelocity of the gases in the gas main, This condition insures a correctproportion in the sample pipe of the solids carried in suspension in thegases in the main, as well as a proportionate volume of the gasespassing through the main. The area of the gas main and the calibratedaperture or opening of the nozzle 36 in the sampling pipe being known,the volume of gases flowing through the gas main is quickly andaccurately computed. The novel combinationof elements forming myimproved sampling apparatus provides means for carrying out my method ina rapid manner, and danger of clogging of the apparatus is lessened andprevented and liability of error in the results obtained is avoided andovercome.

The term gases as used in the specification and claims is intendedto'cover blast furnace and all similar combustible gases containingmoisture or finely divided solids or both and also to include steam, airand similar gaseous fluids.

Modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts formingthe apparatus may be made Without departing from my invention, andapparatus other than that shown and described may be employed incarrying out my improved method of sampling gases forming part of thisinvention within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. The method of sampling gases consisting in removing from agas main a sample of gases of measured volume at the velocity of thegases flowing through the gas main, passing the sample gases through afiltering medium of known dry weight, and then determining the dryweight of the filtering medium and therefrom determining the amount ofsolids contained in the sample gases.

2. The method of sampling gases consistingin removing from a gas mam asample of gases of measured volume at the velocity of the gases flowingthrough the gas main, passing the sample gases through a filteringmedium of known dry weight, condensing the filtered gases to precipitateand collect the moisture therein and determining the dry weight of thefiltering medium, and therefrom determining the amount of solidscontained in the dry sample gases.

3. The method of samplinggases consisting in removing a sample ofgasesfrom a gas main at the velocity of the gases flowing through the gasmain, passing the sample gases through a'filtering medium of known dryweight, measuring the volume of the sample gases and weighing thefiltering medium to therefrom determine the quantity of solids containedin the sample gases.

4. The method of sampling gases consisting in removing a sample of gasesfrom a gas main, passing the sample gases through a filtering medium ofknown dry the sample gases.

weight, the speed of removal of 'thosam'ple gases to equal the velocityof thegases flowing in the s main, measuring the volume of the samp egases and weighing the filtering medium to therefrom determine theamount of solids contained in 5. The method of sampling gases consist:ing in removing alsample of gases from a gasamain, passing the sample.gases through a filtering medium of known dryweight, indicatingtherelative velocity of the gases flowing through the gas main and thesample. pipe, equalizing the speed of removal of thesample gases .andthegases in the gas main, measuring the volume of sample gases removed atthe equalized velocity, and weighing the filtering medium to therefromdetermine the amount of solids contained in the. sample gases.

6. The-method of sampling gases ing in remojt'ing'from a gas main :1sample of gases of measured volume, regulating the speed of removal ofthe sample gases to equal the lvelocity of the gases flowing in the gasmain,fpass ing the sample gases through a filtering medium of knownweight,'condensing the filtered sample gases'to precipitate and collectthe moisture therein, measuring the volume, registering the pressure ofthe sample gases to correct the measured 1 volume and} weighing thefiltering medium,

to determine the amount of solids contained in the dry sample gases.

. 7. The method of sampling gases consisting in removing from a gas maina sample of gases-of measured volume, passing the measured sample gasesthrough a filtering medium of. known dry weight, regulating the speed'atwhich the sample gases are removed to equal the velocity of the gasesflowing in the gas main, condensing the filtered gases to precipitateand collect the moisture therein, measuring the volume and registeringthe pressure and temperature of the sample gases and weighing thefiltering medium 0 determine the amount of solids contained in thesample gases.

8. The method of sampling gases consisting in removing from a gas main:1 sample of gases of measured volume, passing the measured sample gasesthrough a filtering medium of known dry weight, regulating the speed atwhich the sample gases are removed to equal the velocity of the gasesflowing in the gas main, condensing the filtered gases to precipitateand collect the moisture therein, and weighing the filtering medium totherefrom determine thejamount of solids contained in the sample gases.

9. -Apparatus for sampling gases comprising a sampling pipe removablysecured within a gas main and having a calibrated aperture thereinthrough which the sample gases pass irom the gas main, :1 filteringgases pass from the gas main, 2. filtering medium of known dry weightwithin the sampling plpe, a condenser connected to the samphng pipehaving means for preclpitating and measuring the moisture in the samplegases, and means connected to the con denser for measuring the volumeand lndlcating the pressure of the sample gases.

11. Apparatus for sampling gases comprising a sampling pipe removablysecured within a gas mainand having a calibrated aperture thereinthrough which the sample gases pass from the gas main. a filteringmedium of known dry weight within the sampling pipe, a condenserconnected to the sampllng pipe having means for precipitating andmeasuring the moisture in the sample gases, and means connected to thecondenser for measuring the volume and indicating thetemperature andpressure of the sample prising a sampling pipe removably secured withina gas main and having a calibrated aperture therein through which thesample gases pass from the gas main, :1 filtering medium of known dryweight within the sampling pipe, a meter connected to the sampling .pipefor measuring the volume of the sample gases, and means. for regulatingthe velocity of the sample gases passing through the sampling pipe. 13-Apparatus for sampling gases comprising a sampling pipe removablysecuredwithin a gas main and having a calibrated aperture-therein through whichthe sample gases pass from the gas main, afiltering medium of known dryweight within the sampling pipe, a condenser connected to the samplingpipe having means for precipitating and measuring the moisture in thesample gases, means connected to the condenser for measuring the volumeof the sample gases, and means for regulating the velocity of the samplegases passing through the sampling pipe.

14!. In apparatus for sampling gases, the combination. with a samplingpipe removably positioned in'a gas main and having a calibrated openingfor the passage of gases therethrough tom the gas main, of condensingmeans connected to the gas outlet on said sampling pipe forprec1p1tat1ng and collecting moisture in the sample gases, and

12. Apparatusfor sampling gases -com- Q means connected to we gasoutletiof said condensing means whereby the volume of the sample gasesis determined.

15.' Apparatus for determining constituents and characteristics of blastfurnace gases comprising a sampling pipe removably mounted in a gasmain, said sampling pipe having a calibrated aperture therein for thepassage of gases through the sampling pipe, means for withdrawingmeasured samples of gases from the gas main through the sampling pipe,means for comparing the velocity of the gases flowing through thesampling tube with that of the gases in the gas main, and means forequalizing the'velocity of gases passing through the sampling pipe withthat of the gases in said gas main.

16. Apparatus for determining constituents and characteristics of blast-furnace gases comprising a sampling pipe removably mounted in a gasmain, said sampling pipe having a calibrated aperture therein for thepassage of gases through the sampling pipe, a filtering medium in thesampling pipe to remove and collect the solids in the gases passingthrough the sampling pipe, and

means for withdrawing measured samples of gases from the gas mainthrough the calibrated apertures, and the filtering medium 1n saidsampling pipe, said filtering medium being removably secured in thesampling pipe to permit determination of the dry weights of thefiltering medium and the solids removed from the gases of the sample,

and therefrom determine the amount of solids contained in the gasesflowing through the gas main.

17. Apparatus for sampling gases comprising in combination a samplingtube removably secured within a gas main and having a calibratedaperture therein for the passage of gases, a filtering medium of knownweight within the sampling pipe, a condenser connected to the samplingpipe to precipitate and collect moisture in the sample gases, a pumpconnected to the condenser for withdrawing gases from the main throughthe sampling pipe, and a meter connected to the pump outlet formeasuring thevolume of the sample gases drawn thereby from the gas main.

18. Apparatus for sampling gases comprising in combination a samplingtube removably secured within a gas main and having a calibratedaperture therein for the passage of gases, a filtering medium of knownweight within the sampling pipe, a condenser connected to the samplingpipe to precipitate and collect moisture in the sample gases, a pumpconnected to the condenser for withdrawing gases from the main throughthesamplingpipe, a meter connected to the pump outlet for measuring thefiltering medium of known dry weight. and

determining the dry weight of the filtering medium, and therefromdetermining the amount of solids contained in the dry sample gases.

' 20. The method of sampling gases consisting in removing from a gasmain a sample of gases of measured volume, regulating the speed ofremoval of the sample gases to equal the velocity of the gases flowingin the gas main, passing the sample gases through a filterlng medium ofknown weight, measuring the volume, registering the pressure of thesample gases to correct the measured volume and weighing the filteringmedium, to determine the amount of solids contained in the dry samplegases. Y

21. The method of'sampling gases consisting in removing from a gas maina samole of gases of measured volume, passing the measured sample gasesthrough a filtering medium of known dry weight,regulating the speed atwhich the sample gases are removed to equal the velocity of the gasesflowing in the gas main, condensing the filtered gases to precipitatethe moisture therein, measuring the volume and registering the pressureand temperature of the sample gases to correct the measured volume andweighing the filtering medium to determine the amount of solidscontained in the sample gases.

22. The method of sampling gases consisting in removing from a gas maina sample of gases of measured volume, passing the measured sample gasesthrough a filteringmedium of known dry weight, regulating the speed atwhich the sample gases are removed to equal the velocity of the gasesflowing in the gas main, condensing the filtered gases and collectingthe precipitated moisture, measuring the volume and registering thepressure and temperature of the sample gases to correct the measuredvolume and weighing the filtering medium to therefrom determine theamount of solids contained in the sample gases.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

' EARL BROWN.

